Sakyo Furuichi/The Reigning Corpse King

Sakyo’s Papa-Training by the Autumn Troupe

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Izumi	All that’s left is minor size adjustments, and the costumes will be complete.
Yuki	Nn....
Izumi	Is something wrong?
Yuki	Money-grubber yakuza’s costume is perfect, but it’s still missing something....
Sakyo	Missing something?
Izumi	Eh? Really?
Taichi	The costume looks as cool as always!
Omi	It fits the worldview, too.
Banri	It makes him seem like a boss.
Juza	I think it’s good.
Azami	Maybe the colors are too dark overall?
Sakyo	But that suits the theme.
Yuki	...Ah. I know what you’re missing. Fatherliness.
Izumi	Fatherliness?
Yuki	Paternity—that kind of thing.
Izumi	Hmm, you’re right, that could be important. He’s playing Azami-kun’s father, and the exchange between father and son is a key scene.
Banri	Sakyo-san has a dignified presence, but he doesn’t have an understanding and accepting heart, after all.
Azami	He’s just some yakuza.
Yuki	Yeah, he’s stingy about money, so his heart is actually shallow and cramped.
Sakyo	You lot think you can say whatever you want... I don’t have kids. Why the hell would I have that sort of thing.
Omi	But you are playing a fatherly role this time.
Juza	We probably need to do something about this.
Taichi	Alright! We’re gonna start the Sakyo Papa-Training Period!
Sakyo	Hey, who said you could....
Taichi	Sakyo-nii~!
Sakyo	?
Taichi	I brought you something useful! If you wear this, you’ll look like a dad on a Sunday!
Sakyo	It’s so damn ugly....
Omi	But it does look like something a dad would wear on a Sunday.
Juza	It’s stained all over.
Banri	Where the heck did you even get this?
Taichi	I borrowed my dad’s old sweater!
Izumi	So it’s literally your papa’s.
Sakyo	Why would I wear this.
Taichi	Eeeh~!
Sakyo	I’ll just end up looking like some pathetic dude.
Omi	Well, he’s right....
Banri	I kinda wanna see that too, though.
Azami	I’m cracking up just imagining it.
Sakyo	...You brats think this is funny?
Taichi	Then what else comes to mind when you say dad?
Izumi	Hmm....
CHOICE 1: A worrisome nature? [+] Izumi A worrisome nature, maybe? Banri In that sense, he’s definitely fatherly. Taichi Yup yup, that’s true! Omi He’s always worrying when someone comes home late. Juza He paces around the entrance. Azami It’s so annoying. Izumi Does Sakyo-san really worry that much? Banri Only when it’s about Director-chan. Izumi Eh!? Sakyo No, it’s nothing special. Taichi Then let’s say he has that down. Any other ideas~?
CHOICE 2: Being disliked by his teenage daughter? [+] Izumi Being disliked by his teenage daughter, maybe? Taichi Oh, yeah, that’s a common one! Izumi Should we try an etude? Omi Does that mean Director is playing the daughter? Izumi Eh, me? Juza Sakyo-san getting ignored by Director.... Azami How miserable. Banri You say that, but your shoulders are shaking. Omi I don’t think I could stand to watch.... Sakyo You brats.... Taichi I-I feel bad, so let’s think of something else!
Izumi	Hmm....
Juza	Flipping a tea table...?
Banri	Are we back in the Showa period?
Omi	I think it’s harder to find a dad who flips tea tables in this day and age.
Azami	My dad threw a shoji door one time when he was pissed.
Taichi	Now that’s an extreme example!
Izumi	Do we even have a tea table in the dorms—.
	Ah! We might’ve had one in the storage room!
Sakyo	Oi, you’re not gonna bring that here, are you—.
Izumi	I’m glad we conveniently found a tea table~.
Sakyo	Am I really gonna do this....
Banri	There’s no point if you just flip the table, so why don’t we do an etude as well?
Omi	Sounds good. It’s weird to flip tables for no reason.
Sakyo	Then the father is Sakyo-san, and the sons—.
Juza	Going by age it should be Azami and Taichi.
Azami	Me!?
Taichi	Okay~!
Sakyo	Sigh...
Izumi	Ready, go!
Azami	....
Taichi	....
Sakyo	....
Banri	They look so natural sitting around the tea table
Omi	I can imagine a household like this.
Juza	They do look like father and sons now.
Izumi	You’re looking fatherly!
Sakyo	“Azami. Your homeroom teacher called me to school today.”
Azami	“Hah!?”
Taichi	“Sh-should I leave the room?”
Sakyo	“You sit right there and listen.”
Taichi	“O-okay.”
Banri	This is pretty darn real.
Izumi	...Y-yeah.
Sakyo	“I hear you didn’t do your homework again. You claimed you were too busy helping out with the house.”
Azami	“But it’s true. You tell me to do stuff all the time.”
Sakyo	“You’re just playing games all day!”
Azami	“Haah? Why should I care?”
Sakyo	“The same goes for you, Taichi.”
Taichi	“Huh!?”
Sakyo	“Both of you play games all the time—you’ve been late to school lately, Taichi.”
Taichi	“Th-that’s, well....”
Azami	“Ah, yeah, yeah, I get it, you want me to do my homework. Can I go now?”
Taichi	“I think I’ll head to bed early today....”
Sakyo	“I’m not done talking!”
Izumi	Ooh~! A beautiful table-flipping!
Juza	So that’s where he flips it.
Banri	I don’t think you can flip a table beautifully.
Omi	But that made a huge sound.
Izumi	Aah! Is the floor okay!?
Taichi	This is actually more dangerous than I thought!
Sakyo	So if we end up with a hole in the floor, who’s gonna pay to fix it?
Izumi	...L-let’s give up on the table-flipping!

Izumi	What else makes you think of a father...?
Omi	Hmm... carrying a kid on your shoulders?
Taichi	Dads do carry their kids on shoulders all the time~.
Banri	We don’t have a brat to carry.
Juza	Who’s the lightest one here?
Banri	Going by height, isn’t it Taichi?
Taichi	But A~chan is skinnier than me.
Omi	Going by age it would also be Azami.
Azami	Haaah!? No way in hell.
Sakyo	Don’t mess with me. My neck’s gonna break.
Izumi	I think it’s dangerous to carry someone of the same height.
Taichi	Hmm. Someone smaller and lighter—.
	*Door opens*
Muku	Umm—.
	Sorry for interrupting practice. Director-san, someone wants to talk to you. It sounds urgent.
Izumi	There’s someone!!
Omi	He is small.
Juza	He is light.
Azami	For sure.
Muku	Uh-uh-umm, did I do something....
Taichi	Muuchan, we need you to help us out for a sec!
Sakyo	So why are we in the yard.
Taichi	The atmosphere is important, you know! Our theme: a dad playing with his kid in the park on a day off!
	You’re going to carry him on your shoulders like you did when he was little, and be moved by how much he’s grown!
Banri	That’s so detailed.
Omi	Makes it easy to imagine.
Sakyo	Sigh... fine, I guess I have to.
Muku	A-are you sure you’re okay carrying me on your shoulders?
	Wh-what if Sakyo-san hurts his neck and strains his back and becomes unable to walk like a real zombie and—....
Juza	Muku. It’s fine, calm down.
Banri	Sakyo-san straining his back? That’s hilarious... You’re gonna dig your own grave if you keep talking, Muku.
Azami	Sakyo, he’s treating you like an old geezer.
Sakyo	You’re enjoying this....
Izumi	W-well, let’s think of this as part of training. Just do your best.
Sakyo	Sigh. Stay still, Sakisaka.
Muku	Y-yes!
Sakyo	——.
Muku	U-um, are you all right...?
Sakyo	Yeah. You’re fine.
Juza	Sakyo-san carrying Muku....
Taichi	If you look at them it’s just a cryptic scene.
Izumi	S-Sakyo-san, you’re looking a lot more papa-like!
Sakyo	...Now you’re just having fun too, Director-san.
Izumi	I-I’m not...!
Sakyo	Geez, is this really going to help with getting into role? Sorry for dragging you into this, Sakisaka.
Muku	N-no, if it’s for training...! Ah! That’s right! If we’re doing papa-training, how about reading a picture book?
Sakyo	...“The Princess and the Little Castle.”
	...Once upon a time, there was an adorable princess. The princess lived alone in a little castle.
Izumi	I feel like a demon is going to attack at any moment....
Banri	More like, Sakyo-san and the picture book are such a mismatch that I can’t even concentrate on the story. My brain rejects it.
Taichi	Don’t say that...!
Sakyo	...Then the princess said, “Oh, I have a good idea.”
Azami	That’s a woman’s line, so you should speak in a higher tone.
Sakyo	“Oh, I have a good idea.”
Banri	...pff.
Taichi	Don’t laugh!
Azami	I can’t hear you. Say it one more time.
Sakyo	——.
Juza	He’s just making trouble.
Omi	When will Sakyo-san lose his patience....
	*Door opens*
Yuki	Is Sakyo here?
Sakyo	—What is it?
Yuki	I figured out why you weren’t fatherly enough. It’s your hair.
Sakyo	Ah?
Yuki	Get changed.
Sakyo	What is this....
Yuki	Stay still.
Sakyo	——!
Yuki	Done. Doesn’t he seem more fatherly now?
Taichi	Woah, you’re right! He looks more understanding!
Izumi	The hairstyle really makes a different impression!
Omi	Strange how things work, huh.
Banri	That solves our problem, then.
Sakyo	...What was the point of all that.

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